Posted on 09/22/2014 5:26:10 AM PDT by cotton1706
JACKSON, Mississippi -- It's been nearly three months since Chris McDaniel lost the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Mississippi, and he still hasn't conceded. Now, it's worth considering whether McDaniel, a state senator tea party favorite from Jones County, is pursuing a long-term political strategy of winning by losing.
Certified results show six-term Sen. Thad Cochran defeated McDaniel by 7,667 votes in the June 24 primary runoff.
McDaniel is enmeshed in a legal battle trying to overturn Cochran's victory by claiming the runoff was tainted because Cochran reached out to voters who traditionally support Democrats. Mississippi doesn't register voters by party, and McDaniel's odds of success are slim, based on the substantial burden of proving his claim that the primary was so shoddily run that the results are invalid. McDaniel wants a judge to either declare him the victor or order a new runoff.
Facebook and Twitter remain abuzz with McDaniel supporters urging him to "Fight, Chris, fight." Some suggest his tea party supporters should break away from the Republican fold and form their own "McGOP."
McDaniel's never-surrender attitude is clearly wearing thin among many Mississippians, even some who say they voted for him. He might have torpedoed his own political future by making himself look like a sore loser.
On the other hand, McDaniel might be strengthening his political prospects by positioning himself as an advocate for conservatives who feel ignored by the Republican establishment. And that might provide momentum for McDaniel and his allies leading into 2015, when Mississippi elects a slate of statewide officials, from governor to agriculture commissioner.
(Excerpt) Read more at blog.gulflive.com ...
The Republican Establishment wanted him to slink away into oblivion so their preferred crony could coast safely to reelection. But that's not happening.
He’s DOA in MS Republican Politics. He may seek some kind of office as an Independent but as far as having a future as a Republican, forget it.
Uh, you don’t win by losing. However, if he can still go forward and gain something out of this, then thats good.
The Republican Establishment wanted him to slink away into oblivion so their preferred
crony could coast safely to reelection. But that’s not happening.
************
That may well be true. I personally see the Cochran election as a way for the
MS group to have a chance to get their heir appointed when Cochran resigns sometime
after being sworn in for a new term. They can get their guy appointed and will
serve a several months until a special election can be held. JMO.
“McDaniel is enmeshed in a legal battle trying to overturn Cochran’s victory by claiming the runoff was tainted because Cochran reached out to voters who traditionally support Democrats.”
This statement is journalistic horse manure. Cochran’s “reaching out” is totally irrelevant. What is relevant is voters who voted in the Democrat primary coming back to the polls to vote in the Republican runoff. Illegally.
McDaniel is in the right. No one should have an election certified when it relies on illegal votes. Even if he is a geriatric amnesiac like Cochran.
Well said!
Well, you do sometimes: the 300, Gordon at Khartoum, the Alamo.
“McDaniel is a fighter. And he’s fighting obvious corruption. That’s why he’ll continue to have support.”
Exactly. He’s a fighter and doesn’t back down, not to Barbour or any of the other establishment bosses. That’s why we need him in the Senate. Anyone who thinks this guy would kowtow to McConnell clearly isn’t paying attention.
“Anyone who thinks this guy would kowtow to McConnell clearly isn’t paying attention.”
Which is why they pulled out every stop to prevent him from getting into their precious Senate.
It’s been very clear this year. Their goal has not really been to “take back the senate” from the democrats, but to prevent any more conservatives from getting elected. It’s really sick!
Southern non-holders people are long fed up with dems. Its highly unlikely they will vote dem nor will NOT vote and enable the dem.
This MS fight is between the Crackas, unlikely to energize many tunnel-vision blacks come November.
Cochran’s team ran a crooked race but they wouldn’t have gotten far without aid from the crooked Democrat “get out the vote” machine.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.